Midsommer Flight to Open Summer Season with MACBETH, 7/11

Midsommer Flight announces its fourth season presenting free Shakespeare productions, returning to Chicago parks this summer with the classic tragedy Macbeth and adding, for the first time, an indoor winter production of Twelfth Night in partnership at the Lincoln Park Conservatory in December. Dedicated to presenting high quality, accessible productions of Shakespeare's plays, Midsommer Flight is a proud arts partner with the Chicago Park District.

This summer's production of Macbeth will be directed by Midsommer Flight's Founder and Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf. Macbeth runs July 11 through August 30, Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. July 11- 12 and 18-19 performances are at Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina St., in the southeast grove along Paulina St. July 25- 26 and August 1-2 performances are at Schreiber Park, 1552 W. Schreiber Ave., in the field at the corner of Bosworth Ave. and Schreiber Ave. August 8-9 and 15-16 performances are at Gross Park, 2708 W. Lawrence Ave., at the north end of the park along Gunnison St. August 22, 23, and 30 performances are at Lincoln Park, on N. Stockton Drive behind the Lincoln Park Cultural Center at 2045 N. Lincoln Park West. There is no performance on August 29. All performances will be presented free of charge (donations gratefully accepted). In addition, live music will be presented prior to each performance. Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming. For more information go to www.midsommerflight.com.

Midsommer Flight's Macbeth features a cast of 18 and tells a chilling tale. Upon hearing a witches' prophecy that someday he will be king, Macbeth sets off on a violent path to claim and hold onto the throne, offering a cautionary tale of the consequences of his "vaulting ambition." One of Shakespeare's most well-known tragedies, Macbeth features exciting swordfights, supernatural thrills, and some of the most famous and affecting language in the canon.

In addition to the main production, Midsommer Flight will present live music 30 minutes prior to each performance. Music programming varies with each venue, with specific performers being announced at a later date.

Following the summer production, Midsommer Flight is pleased to announce the addition of new winter programming next December with a free indoor production of Shakespeare's delightful comedy, Twelfth Night, directed by Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf. The play will be presented in the Show House room at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 N. Stockton Dr., from December 4 through 19 on Fridays and Saturdays at
7:30 p.m. Performances are free and open to the public, but reservations will be encouraged due to limited seating. Donations gratefully accepted. For more information, visit www.midsommerflight.com.

Twelfth Night features a cast 12 actors and original music. The play takes the audience to Illyria, where a shipwrecked Viola disguises herself as a boy, goes to work for the Duke Orsino and falls in love with him, who in turn loves the fair lady Olivia. Misunderstandings and misplaced love abound in this delightful comedy. The title of the play refers to the "twelfth night of Christmas," and some historians believe that the play was originally written and performed for the holiday. Midsommer Flight's production will provide a free, family-friendly activity to Chicagoans for the holiday season and a unique experience amongst the other holiday offerings in Chicago.

Midsommer Flight is a Chicago theatre collective dedicated to producing outdoor performances of Shakespeare's plays. After the company's well-received inaugural production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in 2012, the Chicago City Council honored Midsommer Flight with a resolution praising "the Midsommer Flight theater troupe on their dedication to bringing the arts to underserved communities." The company incorporated as a not-for-profit in the state of Illinois in early 2013, and has since produced Romeo and Juliet (2013) and Much Ado About Nothing (2014).

Midsommer Flight's Macbeth by William Shakespeare and directed by Midsommer Flight's Founder and Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf, runs July 11 through August 30, Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. July 11-12 and 18-19 performances are at Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina St., in the southeast grove along Paulina St. July 25-26 and August 1-2 performances are at Schreiber Park, 1552 W. Schreiber Ave., in the field at the corner of Bosworth Ave. and Schreiber Ave. August 8-9 and 15-16 performances are at Gross Park, 2708 W. Lawrence Ave., at the north end of the park along Gunnison St. August 22, 23, and 30 performances are at Lincoln Park, on N. Stockton Drive behind the Lincoln Park Cultural Center at 2045 N. Lincoln Park West. There is no performance on August 29. All performances will be presented free of charge (donations gratefully accepted). In addition, live music will be presented prior to each performance. Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming. For more information go to www.midsommerflight.com.

Twelfth Night, directed by Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf, will be presented in the Show House room at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 Stockton Dr., December 4 through 19 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Performances are free and open to the public, but reservations will be encouraged due to limited seating. Donations gratefully accepted. For more information, visit www.midsommerflight.com.